Animal-trap



I. W. STEVENSON.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 29. 1920.

1,354,584, Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

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I I I l I I I I I I I I I l I I l I I UNITED STATES JOSEPH W. STEVENSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

A Application filed January 29, 1920. Serial No. 354,974.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JosnrH lll. STEmN- sox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which the following is a specilicatiton.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a trap, and the invention aims to provide novel means for supporting the trigger, and to improve the construction of the trigger in combination with the jaw and other parts which coact with the trigger.

lVith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter describet and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. j

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows, in top plan, a trap constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, the jaw being raised and set; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 41 is a fragmental side elevation.

The trap forming the subject matter of this application includes a main frame comprising a base 1. An end wall 2 is secured to one extremity of the base 1 and is provided upon its inner surface with upwardly projecting L-shaped hooks 9. Sides 3 are connected to the end wall 2 and to the base 1, the sides being approximately one-half as long as the base 1. In their forward edges, adjacent their upper corners, the sides 3 are supplied with notches or seats 4 which are open at their outer ends. A slot 5 is fashioned in the end wall. 2 and receives a vertically swinging latch 6 mounted on a pivot element 7 carried by the end wall 2. The rear end of the latch 6 is supplied with a notch 8.

By means of securing elements 10, such as staples, a fulcrum rod 11 is secured to the base 1 at a point adjacent to the free ends of the walls 2. The rod 11 may be bowed upwardly to a slight extent, if desired. as

indicated in Fig. 3, although this detail is not insisted upon. The invention comprises a trigger denoted generally by the numeral 12, the trigger embodying a main plate 14 `on the fulcrum rod supported for vertical swinging movement 11. In this connection itis to be observed that the fulcrum rod does not pass through any part of the main plate of the trigger. A securing device, such as a screw 15 passes through the main plate 141 of the trigger 12, in front of the fulcrum rod 1.1 and engages the base 1, the head of the securing device 15 serving to retain the plate on the securing device 15 for vertical sliding movement. Y' ltwill be seen that although the trigger 12 can tilt on the fulcrum rod 11, the trigger is held 1n place for vertical tilting movement by the securing device 15. The trigger 12 iiicludes an auxiliary plate 16 superposed on the main plate 14C at the rear end thereof, the auxiliary plate being supplied at its forward end with an upstanding projection 17. A securing element 18 unites the rear end of the auxiliary plate 1G with the rear end of the main plate 14, and these ends of the plates may be connected, further, by a clip 19, the ends 2O of which-extend beneath the rear end of the main plate 14. Tongues 21 are struck from the edges of the main plate 141 intermediate the ends of the main plate, the tongues 21 being bent baekwardly upon the auxiliary plate 16, and constituting means for holding the auxiliary plate on the main plate. It may be observed at this point that the auxiliary plate 16 and Vthe clip 19 serve as counterweights, tending to swing the forward end of the trigger 12 upwardly, to a slight extent. The utility of this construction will be made manifest hereinafter. The rear end of the trigger 12 operates between guide pinsl 22 mounted in the base 1 near to the end wall 2.

The invention comprises a box like jaw, denoted generally by the numeral 23. The jaw 23 includes a back block 24 to which the ends of a U-shaped strip 25 are secured, the strip 25 defining the sides and the forward end of the box like jaw 23. A reinforcing block 26 abuts against the forward-portion of the U-shaped strip 25 and is secured thereto. The box like jaw 23 includes a foraminous top 28, secured at 29 to the reinforcing block 23 and the back block 24. The strip 25 preferably is made of metal, and in the lower ledge of the strip, teeth 2.7 are formed. A striking plate 30 is mounted on the forward end of the base 1 and serves to receive the impact of the jaw when the same swings downwardly to a closed position, under the impulse of springs hereinafter described.

Projections 31, such as screws, are mounted in the ends of the back block 24 of the jaw 23 and are seated removably in the notches 4L of thel sides 3. Retractile springs 33 are provided, the forward ends of the retractile springs being permanently secured, as indicated at 34, to the back block 24 of the jaw 23, below the Vpivotal mounting 31-1 of the jaw 23. The rear ends of the springs 33 are supplied with hooks 35 or the like, adapted to be engaged removably with the hooks 9 on the end wall 2 of the main frame of the trap. A keeper 32, which may be of U-shape, if desired, is carried by the back block 24 of the jaw 23 and upstands therefrom.

ln practical operation, let it be supposed that it is desired to bait the trap. Then the hooks on the rear ends o-f the springs 33 are cast off the hooks 9 on the end wall 2 of the main frame of the trap. The jaw 23 then may be slid forwardly, the projections 31 moving out of the notches or seats at in the sides 3. Thus, the jaw 23 is freed from the main frame of the trap. The jaw may be inverted, and bait of any kind may be tied or secured otherwise to the foraminous top 28 of the jaw. Then, the jaw 23 is mounted in place, the'projections 31 being slid backwardly into the notches or seats 4, and the hooks 35 atthe rear ends of the springs 33 being engaged again with the hooks 9 on the end wall 2.

By means of the keeper 32, the jaw 23 is swung upwardly and rearwardly, into Van open position, the springs 33 being put under tension. The rear end portion of the keeper 32 engages the rear end of the latch 6 and swings the forward end of the latch upwardly. Since the trigger 12 is counterweighted at its rear end by the auxiliary plate 16, the trigger' 12 tends to swing downwardly at its rear end, the projection 17 swinging rearwardly and engaging beneath the forward end of the latch 6, the rear por tion of the keeper 32 being engaged in the Y notch 8 of the latch 6. An animal, attracted by the bait, steps upon the forward end of the trigger 12 and tilts the same on its fulcrum 11. This operation swings the proj ection 17 forwardly, disengaging the said projection from the forward end of the latch 6. The hold of the latch 6 on the keeper 32 is released, and the springs 33 swing the jaw 23 downwardly into a closed position. lf the animal tampering with the trap is small, the animal maybe caught alive within the contour of the jaw 23. Tt is more likely, however, that the teeth 27 of the jaw will hold the animal between the jaw 23 and the base 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A trap comprising a base; a fulcrum rod on the base; a trigger resting on the fulcrum rod; a securing device passing through the trigger, the trigger being slidable on the securing device, the securing device engaging the base and including a head coperating with the triggei1 to hold the trigger on the fulcrum rod; a jaw pivoted to the base; spring means for closing the jaw; and means for holding the jaw set, the last specified means cooperating with the trigger.

2. In a device of the class described, a base; a trigger comprising a main plate and an auxiliary plate superposed on the main plate and constituting a counterweight for the main plate,vthe auxiliary plate having an upstanding projection,` tongues being struck from the main plate, the tongues being bent to engage the auxiliary plate on each side of thefprojcction; va jaw; means for pivotally connecting the jaw with the base; spring means for operating the jaw; and mechanism coacting with the projection to hold the jaw set against the action of the spring'means.

In testimony that T claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEP-H lV. STEVENSON.

Witnesses GEO. F. CARRIGK, GEO. W. CARRICK. 

